Road building machine



we. 22, 1936. H H, BARBER 2,064,807

ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ha fr? /72 766/:

. 22, 1936. H. H. BARBER V ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 n lmullwlll ,//E UR Ha ffy Hf, Za rbe/z mc. 22, 1936. H BARBER 2,064,807

ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2o, 1932 7 sheets-sheet 4 Ha ffy /7 a 7266/:

me. 22, 1936. H. H. BARBER 2,064,807

ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1952 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 I lf J s i I I 401g 4g Ila I f il Haz ffy 2% @mbe/z H. H. BARBER 2,064,807

ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Filed Aug. 20, 1932 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 JT Q 6;

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we. 22, 1936. H. H. BARBER ROAD BUILDING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Aug. 20, 1932 yer-7 DE Patented ec. 22, 1936 PATENT FFICE ROAD BUILDING MACHINE Illinois Application August 20, 1932, Serial No. 629,633

15 Claims.

This invention relates to a road building machine and concerns itself more directly with a unit that gathers the material deposited along a road, elevates the same, sprays the same with some binding agent, thoroughly mixes the material or aggregate such as crushed stone or gravel or the like with the binding agent and redeposits it upon the roadway for treatment by a second or trailing unit. It should however be understood that since 'the invention is directed mainly-to the preparation of road building material, the apparatus could be used as stationary plant by merely disconnecting the crawler drive and other slight changes.

One of the objects of the invention resides in the production of a machine that is susceptible of properly proportioning the mixture to be deposited upon the roadway. To this end it contains means for storing any accumulation of aggregate and feeding the same in a uniform quantity that can be varied according to the desired depth of the pavement and means for regulating the quantity of the binding agent such as bitumen or the like that is sprayed upon the aggregate. A further feature resides in means for thoroughly spraying all parts of the aggregate and controlling the discharge thereof when the machine is upon an incline.

The invention comprises the novel structure and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out and clened in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred form of this invention and in which similar reference numerals refer to similar features in the different views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of the first unit of a paving machine involving this invention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the paving unit.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the paving unit with parts shown in section.

Figure 4 is an enlarged part sectional and part elevational view taken through the feeding hopper, the feed conveyor, part of the spraying mechanism and the discharge chute.

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line V-V of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is an enlarged part sectional and part elevational view of the spraying mechanism for spraying the gravel discharged by the feeding belt. Figure '7 is an enlarged top plan view of the mixing chamber including the mixing element for thoroughly mixing the gravel and bituminous substance. y

Figure 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken upon the line VIII-VIII of Figure 5.

Figure 9 is an enlarged top plan view of the change speed gearing showing parts in section. The invention is illustrated in connection with a loading machine comprising the usual crawlers I which support a suitable frame upon which a loading boom 2 is mounted. Upon the loading boom, there is-mounted an endless sprocket chain 3 for conveying the gravel or crushed stone upwardly. The aggregate which may consist of gravel or crushed stone which is usually deposited in a wind row along the road is adapted to be fed to the bucket line by a pair of spiral feeding elements 4. The buckets convey the gravel upwardly and dump the same into a hopper 5 which is carried by the framework of the crawler.v The hopper 5 is formed with a converging bottom comprisingthe side plates 6 and 1 having a discharge orice therebetween which may be regulated by a gate 9 having a bracket Il) thereon which is connected to an adjusting screw II attached to the hopper and having a hand wheel I2 whereby the same may be rotated. '.By rotating the adjusting screw II, it is possible to actuate the gate 8 for varying the discharge opening from the hopper and regulating the flow of gravel or crushed stone as may be desired. It will be appreciated that the wind row is not uniform and that varying amounts of aggregate are elevated by the bucket line. This aggregate can accumulate in the hopper and only the require amount need be conveyed therefrom.

The gravel or crushed stone is discharged from the hopper 5 upon a feed belt I3 which is supported upon suitable sprocket wheels I@ mounted upon shafts I5 and I6.

The stream of gravel that is fed forward by the conveyor I3 descends downwardly upon an inverted V-shaped stream divider I1, the diverging walls Ila of which separate the stream into two parts which converge below the stream divider as they strike the converging walls I 8 of a guide chute.

Means has been provided for spraying the stream of gravel as it leaves the feed conveyor I3with a binding agent. This binding agent may be supplied 'from a tank wagon which travels in advance of the rst unit. A hose I9 extending from the tank wagon (Figure 1) may be attached to a fluid pipe 20 mounted. upon one side of the crawler frame. A valve 2l in the fluid pipe is adapted to be operated for regulating the ow of the binding agent. Beyond the valve 2|, this uid feed pipe 20 communicates with a pair of branch'pipes 26a and 20h as shown more clearly in Figure 6. Avvalve 22 is associated with the branch 20h for regulating the flow of fluid. In referring to Figure 4, it will be noted that the branch pipe 2Gb has a series of nozzles 23 which are adapted for spraying the binding agent upon the outer surface of the stream of aggregate and that the branch pipe 20a, extends beneath the divider I'I and has a series of nozzles 24 for spraying the binding agent upon the inner surfaces of the two streams of aggregate as they descend down the sides of the divider II. In this manner, the stream of aggregate is thoroughly sprayed from both the exterior and interior.

The sprayed aggregate descends into a mixing chamber 25 which is best shown in Figure 7.

This mixing chamber has its side walls extended as indicated at 26 and these extensions are pivoted to a rod 2l carried by the framework of the crawler by means of suitable brackets. The extensions are shown as pivoted to the rod 21 by means of angle clips 28. The mixing chamber is adapted to be normally maintained in a horizontal plane when the machine is paving a level road. However, when the road that is being paved inclines upwardly or downwardly, it is desirable to change the inclination of the mixing chamber in order to maintain a uniform discharge therefrom. To this end the mixing chamber is adjustably suspended from the framework of the crawler by a pair of tie rods 29 provided with adjustable turnbuckles 29a. By adjusting these turnbuckles the position of the mixing chamber with respect to the plane of the crawler may be readily varied. The mixing chamber may also be supported by a pair of adjustable struts or rods 30 which are pivoted to a transverse rod carried by the crawler frame and connected to the sides of the mixing chamber. These rods 30 are also provided with adjustable turnbuckles 30a which are susceptible of adjusting the length of the rods 30. When the rods 30 are also used, it will of course be necessary to adjust the same when the upper tie rods are adjusted. Within the mixing chamber, there are journaled a pair of parallel shafts 32 upon which mixing paddles 33 are mounted The paddles 33 are preferably directed at an angle of substantially 45 to the axis of the shafts for the purpose of moving the mixture to the rear end thereof for discharging the same upon the highway. Each shaft 32 has a beveled gear 34 upon its rear end. These beveled gears mesh with beveled pinions 35 secured upon a shaft 36 journaled in the extended side frame members of the mixing chamber. Through the rotation of the shaft 32, the aggregate and the bituminous substance will be thoroughly mixed and gradually advanced toward the discharge end of the mixing chamber. The bottom ofthe mixing chamber 25 may be provided with a heating chamber 25a. (Figure 3) into which an exhaust pipe 25h from the engine discharges f'or heating the contents of the mixing chamber.

The various mechanisms embodied in this machine are driven from an engine 3'! (Figure 1) mounted upon the crawler. The different driving connections from the motor 3l are diagrammatically illustrated in Figure 1. Only a few of these driving connections that cooperate with the mechanism involving this invention need be described. It will be noted that the engine is geared to a shaft 38 which in turn is connected by sprocket gearing to shaft 36 for driving the mixing paddles; The shaft 38 is also connected by means of a sprocket chain 38a, to a shaft 45 extending into a variable transmission casing 46 (Figure 9). Within the casing 46, the shaft 45 has a pair of spaced slidable friction gears 41 thereon. The faces of these gears diverge radially and they are provided with suitable serrations. Spaced from the shaft 45 there is a second shaft 48 in the casing in parallel relation to shaft 48. The shaft 48 has a pair of friction gears 49 slidably mounted thereon. The gears 49 are similar to the gears 4'I in that they have diverging serrated faces in opposed relation. Parallel levers 50 are pivoted respectively to the hubs of the gears 4l and 49. The levers 50 are pivoted intermediate their ends to bearing blocks I on the casing 46 by means of eccentric disks 52. A screw rod 53 is threaded in the casing 46 and in swivel nuts 54 on the levers 50. This screw rod is provided with a hand knob 55. A sprocket vchain or belt 60 embodying wedge shaped blocks 6I that t between the two gears 49 and the two gears 41 connects said gears. The blocks 6I may be of leather or any suitable material. The operation of the levers 50 by the screw rod 53 will draw one pair of bevel gears together and separate the other pair whereby the speed of shaft 48 may be quickly varied for any desired variation for changing the rate of feed of the feed conveyor I3. The shaft 48 is connected by a sprocket chain 56 with shaft 39 as shown in Figure 5. Shaft 39 is connected by sprocket gearing 51 with shaft I6 for driving the feed conveyor. With reference to Figures 5 and 8 it will be noted that shaft 48 extends through the machine and carries a gear 58 which is connected to a meter or regulator 59 for the binding agent so that the ow will be regulated with the regulation of the feed conveyor I3.

In referring to the drawings, especially Figure 5, it will be noted that the front wall of the hopper 5 has a plurality of spaced screened windows 40 so that an observer can readily see the amount of aggregate in the hopper. In the event that too much aggregate is fed into the hopper, a portion of the excess thereof may be discharged through a laterally extending chute 4I by opening the discharge gate 42 which normally closes a lateral orifice in the side of the hopper 5 as shown in Figure 5.

In referring to Figures 1 and 2, it will be noted that a pair of platforms 43 and 44 are attached to one side of the machine upon which the operators or attendants may stand while the with the arrangement for spraying the exterior and interior portions of the stream of aggregate, it is an easy matter to obtain the proper proportions of the ingredients and produce a good uniform mixture. It should `also be appreciated that the discharging mixer 25 in which the aggregate is thoroughly agitated may be angularly adjusted to suit the variations in the inclination of the road so that the feed from the mixing chamber may be maintained at a. fairly constant rate of discharge. It will further be appreciated that the use of the storage hopper allows excess aggregate to acciunulate and that the adjustability of the hopper feed and the uid feed will always obtain the proper proportion of aggregate and binding agent and will provide a uniform redeposit upon the roadway. It will also be appreciated that the apparatus may easily be adapted for use as a stationary plant for merely preparing the road building material, or that the means for obtaining the proper proportion of parts may be used for such a purpose.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a road paving machine, a hopper, means for gathering aggregate from the road bed and discharging the same into the hopper, said hopper having a discharge orifice, an endless conveyor beneath said orifice for receiving said aggregate and discharging the same in a stream, an inverted V-shaped divider for dividing the stream of aggregate into two parts, means for spraying said stream of aggregate with a binding agent, an'd means beneath said divider for spraying the interior portions of said two parts, and a mixer for receiving the sprayed aggregate.

2. In a road paving machine, means for supi plyingaggregate, means for feeding said ,aggregate in a stream, means for spraying said stream with-a binding agent, an inverted V shaped divider for splitting the stream of aggregate into parts and means for spraying the interior of said parts with a binding agent.

3. In a road paving machine, a hopper, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, said hopper having a discharge orifice, an adjustable gate for controlling the volume of discharge from said hopper, an endless conveyor beneath said orifice for receiving the aggregate, means including a change speed mechanism for operating said conveyor whereby the volume and rate of feed of said aggregatemay be controlled, said conveyor discharging said aggregate in a stream, means including a regulator for spraying said aggregate with a binding agent, and means for simultaneously controlling said regulator and conveyor for the purpose set forth.

l4. In a road paving machine comprising a frame, a mixer pivoted at its forward end to said frame and extending rearwardly thereof, inclined adjustable rods connecting the rear portions of said mixer with said frame for supporting said mixer and means for adjusting said rods for varying the inclination of said mixer for maintaining a constant feed when said machine travels up or down hill.

5. In a road paving machine, a spraying device comprising a supply pipe, a pair of` parallel pipes` by the volume and rate of feed of said aggregate may be controlled, said conveyor discharging the aggregate in a stream, means including a regu lator for spraying said stream of aggregate with a binding agent, and means for simultaneously controlling said regulator and the speed of said conveyor.

7. In a road paving machine, a hopper, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, means for receiving the aggregate from said hopper in regulated volume and discharging the same in a stream, means for splitting said stream of aggregate into two parts, means for spraying the stream of aggregate and the interior of the divided parts with a binding agent, and means for simultaneously controlling the speed of said aggregate feeding means and the volume of said binding agent.

8. In a road paving machine, a hopper, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, said hopper having an adjustable discharge gate, a conveyor beneath said gate for receiving said aggregate and discharging the same in a stream, means including a change speed mechanism for operating said conveyor whereby the volume and rate of feed thereof may be controlled, means including a regulator for spraying said stream of aggregate with a binding agent, a mixer for receiving 'the sprayed stream of aggregate, and means for simultaneously controlling said change speed mechanism and said regulator.

9. In a road paving machine, a hopper, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, said hopper -having a discharge orice, an adjustable gate for controlling the discharge through said orifice, a conveyor for receiving the aggregate discharged from said hopper, means including a change speed mechanism for operating said conveyor whereby the volume and rate of feed of said aggregate maybe controlled, said conveyor discharging the aggregate in a stream, means for spraying said stream with a binding agent, a mixer for receiving the sprayed aggregate, and adapted for discharging the same on a road bed and means for tilting said mixer for maintaining constant the discharge thereof in going up or down hill.

10. In a road paving machine, a hopper, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, a mixer, means for supplying aggregate from said hopper to said mixer in a stream, means whereby the volume and speed of said stream of aggregate may be varied, means for spraying said stream of aggregate with a binding agent, means for controlling the volume of said stream of binding agent, said mixer being adapted to discharge the sprayed aggregate upon the roadway, and means for tilting said mixer for maintaining constant the discharge thereof in going up or down a hill.

11. In a road paving machine, a hopper having a discharge orifice, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, a mixer, a travelling conveyor for conveying the aggregate from the hopper to the mixer, means for varying the discharge from the hopper to said conveyor, means for varying the travelling movements of said conveyor whereby the volume and rate of feed of said aggregate to said mixer may be controlled, means for spraying said aggregate with a binding agent, said mixer being adapted to discharge the sprayed aggregate upon a road way and means for tilting said mixer in the event that the machine travels up or down hill to maintain a substantially constant discharge thereof.

12. In a road paving machine, a hopper, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, an endless conveyor beneath said hopper, a mixing chamber beneath the discharge end of said conveyor for receiving the aggregate, an inverted V-shaped divider between said mixer and conveyor for split- .ting the stream of aggregate discharged from said conveyor, and means for spraying said aggregate with a binding agent as it descends from said conveyor including a spray pipe under said V shaped divider for spraying the inner surfaces of the split streams.

13. In a road paving machine comprising a traveling vehicle, a hopper supported upon said vehicle and having an adjustable discharge gate, means for supplying aggregate to said hopper, a conveyor for receiving the aggregate discharged through said gate, means including a change speed mechanism for operating said conveyor whereby the volume and rate of feed of said aggregate may be controlled, a mixer carried by said vehicle, said conveyor discharging said aggregate in a stream into said mixer, means including a metering device for spraying said stream of aggregate with a binding agent, and operating means for said metering device connected to said change speed mechanism.

14 In an apparatus for preparing road paving material, a hopper having a discharge oriiice, an

adjustable gate for regulating the discharge thru said orifice, an endless conveyor beneath said orifice for receiving the material discharged thru gate for receiving said material and discharging the same in a stream, means for operating said conveyor at diierent rates of speed whereby the volume and rate of feed of said material may be varied, a spraying system for spraying said stream of material with a binding agent, a mixer for receiving the sprayed material and means for simultaneously controlling said first mentioned means and said spraying system for maintaining a constant proportion of parts.

HARRY H. BARBER. 

